Railway coupler



1959 H. H. WOLFE 2,869,736

RAILWAY COUPLER Filed Dec. 21, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 E INVENTOR 1 J5 g x y .WaLFe;

QM AM ATTORNEY H. H. WOLFE RAILWAY COUPLER Jan. 20, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 21, 1953 6 I N VENTOR 6 WQLFE, -57 BY Q AQAQQ ofuthe hopper type; desirable to have the car being dumped remain coupled -toaannadjacent upright railway vehicle and .it is an object -of the present invention to provide a coupler 'for a car Ltbedumped which will permit a coupler to remain in :mated .engagementwith an adjacent upright coupler.

United States Patento RAILWAY coorrnu Harry H. Wolfe, Columbus, Ohio, assignor to .The Buckeye Steel Castings Company, Columbus, Ohio Application December-21, 1953, SerialNoa 399,298

.10 Claims. (CL 213-72) The present invention relates tora coupler iformrail -way vehicles and morespecificallypertainswto the stem :Of a railway coupler which .is constructed :to permit a rear end portionof'theshank to turn raboutvthe longitudinal axis of the draw bar while the ricouplerxheadaremains in a fixed upright position.

It :has been found .desirable in discharging the con tents of arailwaycar to invert the body of the vehicle whereby the load escapes'therefrom. Such a dumping operation is advantageously carried outwith apparatus wherein the car .body is rotated about a longitudinal axis in alignment with the draw bars through-substanstially one hundred eighty degrees to efiectively .discharge granular or like materials from the car body In such unloading operations it is Another object of'the invention is to provide a railway coupler with a stem so constructed .that 1a rear portion thereof may rotate with respect to the coupler head "thereby permitting the coupler ito. iremainwin coupled relationship with anothercoupler while the rear portion of :the stem turns withpthe car bodyas it is vrotated through substantially one hundred eighty degrees.

A more detailed object of the invention is to provide .a coupler head with one stem portion which ex :tendsinto a rearistem member and to provide a journal between the overlapping parts ofthe stem so as to permit :the rear member of the stem to rotate .aboutthe longitudinal axis of the composite stem whilethe coupler "headxremainsin a generally upright position.

:A'Still further object of the invention is to providela pivotedconnection between a rear stern member fora -itiis not-coupled to another railway vehicle.

:Other :objects and features of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art as the present disclosure proceeds and upon consideration of the accomipanying drawings and the following detailed description wherein an embodiment of the invention is disclosed.

:rangedior such anuriloading operation is so designed coupler and a front stem member including detentmeans st-ownormally retain the front stem member in a fixed "position with respect to the rearstem portion and .there zrby unaintain the coupler head in a fixed position when 2,869,736 Patented Jan. 20, 1959 "ice .Fig. -6 is a. sectional view of the rear stem member taken on the;line6-6 of Fig. 5.

. Fig. 7 is anend view of the rear stem member taken in the; direction of the arrow 7-ofFig. 6.

Fig. 8 is atransverse section taken on the line .8--8 ofFig. 6.

.Fig. 9 is a plan view. of a member adapted to fit in the rear. stem member.

Fig. .10..is a.sectional view taken on the line iii- 10 ofiFig. 9.

Fig.. 11 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 11-41 oiiFig. 110.

Fig. -12.is an end view of the retaining member.

The present invention "is directed to the draw bar of acoupler whereby therear member of the coupler stem may rotate about alongitudinal axis of the draw bar so as to enable the treat member of the coupler shank toturn withthe draft rigging. The invention is adaptable to all .types of couplers and 'in the embodiment disclosed a type ".coupler head is shown at 14 in Fig. l. .The. coupler head 14 is of a conventional type ex- .ceptqfor changes in the lock lift mechanism and the rotor lever .as described :and claimed in my copending application SerialNo. 393,193, filed November 19, 1953. The purpose of forming the coupler stem of two-parts is to permitrotation ofthe rear part of theshank with referencetothe couplerhead to thereby permit the coupler head 14 .to remain in mated or coupled engagement with the coupler of another upright railway vehicle while the .car body is turned through as much as one hundred eighty degrees to discharge material from the car .body. The apparatus on which the car is arthatit rotates the car body about the axis of the coupler drawibars.

.A composite coupler stem assembly exhibiting the in- ..ventionis shown in the drawings wherein the rear stern member .isrepresented generall; at 315 while the forward stem portion is indicated at l6 which may be formedintegral with the coupler head. The rearstem .member 15 vis provided with a spherical shaped butt .end .17for cooperation with a follower of the draft rigging-in the usual manner. A vertically disposed open- .ing 18 is provided adjacent the rear end of the stem .member 15 for accommodating a pin for connecting thecoupler shank to nose portions of a yoke (not shown) in a known manner. A concave spherical surface il forms the rear boundary of the opening '1 for accommodatingtaibearing block (not shown) in a known mannerjso that .theprear stern member 15 of the coupler may swivel horizontally and vertically. Other conventional ,butt end structures and connections may be providedat the rear end of the stem assembly.

The rearstem member '15 is provided with an elon- .1 gatedcavity 20 therein for accommodating an extension .21 carried by the frontstem member 16. The rear stem tmember 15 istspaeed from the front stem member 16 as shown at 22in .Fig. l. The extension 23 is cylindrical -ish aped throughout a major portion of its length and projects into the cavity 2ft. -A'bear ing surface 23 isaprovided .within therear stem member 11% so that the extreme rear end of the extension 21 is journalled for rotation on this bearing surface. .Another cylindrical surface 2'4 is providedonfthe forward portion of the rear stem member 15 within the cavity .20 for cooperation with a cylindrical .neck .25 of rthe extension. .T he rear stem member is provided with lugs 27 and 28 which cooperate with an enlarged boss 31 carried by the extension 21.

"The extension 21forming a part of the front stem is introduced .into the rear stem member through an opening32 provided in the lower portion of the rear *steinmniber 15. The cylindrical surface at the rear end of the extension 21 is thus seated on the bearing surface 23 and the cylindrical portion 25 is seated for rotation on the cylindrical surface 24.

A filler member 34 shown in Figs. 9 to 12 is then mounted in place to close the opening 32 and to hold the two-part stern structure in assembled relationship. The filler member is provided with a cylindrical surface 36 for complementing the cylindrical bearing surface 23. A similar short segment of a cylindrical surface 37 is carried by the forward portion of the filler member 34 and complements the cylindrical surface 24 at the forward portion of the rear stem member 15. A recess 38 is formed in the filler member 34 for accommodating a segmental portion of the boss 31. A shoulder 41 adjacent the bearing surface 37 on the filler member 34 serves as another part of the lug structure at the front of the rear stem member 15. The shoulder 41 in cooperation with the lugs 27 and 28 and the shoulder 42 on the boss 31 serve to transmit the pulling forces from the coupler stem member 16 to the rear stem member 15.

The filler member 34 is secured in place by welding and the weld metal is applied along the transverse area 46 and the longitudinal areas 47 in Figs. 3 and 4. In order to facilitate application of the weld metal the lower edges of the rear stem member 15 are bevelled at 48 and the filler member is similarly bevelled at 49. Longitudinally extending shoulders 51 formed on the rear stem member 15 cooperate with shoulders 52 on the filler member 34 to accurately position the filler member within the opening 32. The filler member 34 may be clamped and held in position while the Welding operation is carried out. The rear stem member 15 with the filler member 34 in place may be regarded as rear stem means.

The front end of the rear stem member is provided with a spherical shaped recess 61 as shown in Fig. 7. A relatively large aperture 62 is formed in the rear portion of the front stem member 16 for accommodating a ball 63 and a spring 642. The recess 61 is so positioned that when the coupler head 14 is in its normal upright position with the knuckle pin in a vertical position the ball 63 will be urged into the recess 61 and thus releasably retain the rear stem member 15 in a fixed position with reference to the front stem member 16.

The extension 21 is of such length as to terminate immediately forward of the pin receiving opening 18 to make the bearing structure as long as possible and thus counteract any tendency of the coupler head 14 and the front stem member 16 to droop with respect to the rear stern member. The lugs 27 and 28 carried by the rear stem member 15 and the lug shoulder 41 carried by the filler member 34 in cooperation with the shoulder 42 on the boss 31 transmit the pulling forces from the coupler head 14 to the rear stem member 15. The cylindrical surface 23 formed in the rear stem member in cooperation with the segmental cylindrical surface 36 on the filler member 34 provide for relative rotation of the parts but at the same time restrains the coupler head 14 and the front stem member 16 from drooping. This desirable characteristic is further attained by having the extension 21 bear on the cylindrical segment 37 and at the same time bear on the upper portion of the cylindrical surface 23 when all the parts are assembled. Clearance is provided at the hearings to provide freedom for rotation. The shoulders 51 in cooperation with the shoulders 52 permit the filler member 34 to be clamped in position after the front stem member is mounted in position with the extension 21 within the rear stem member 15 and such clamping may be maintained when the filler member is welded along three sides to the rear stem member.

It will be apparent that the rear stern member. 15 is rotatable about the axis of the extension 21. Thus when i the rear stem member 15 is attached to a draft rigging in the usual manner and when the car body is undergoing a dumping operation the rear stem member 15 will rotate member 16 and the coupler head in an upright position. Accordingly the coupler head 14 may remain in coupled relationship with the coupler of a railway vehicle adjacent the car being dumped. During such relative rotation of the rear stem member 15 with respect to the front stem member the ball 63 rides on the flat front surface 72 of the rear stem member 15. When the car body is returned to an upright position the ball 63 re-enters the recess 61. Thus when the coupler head 14 is uncoupled from an adjacent coupler it will remain in an upright position by the restraint provided by the ball 63 cooperating with the recess 61.

While the invention has been shown and described'in connection with a particular type of coupler and having a particular shaped rear end it will be appreciated that the invention is directed to structure providing for rota tion of the rear portion of a coupler stem with regard to a coupler head. Thus rear end structure of coupler stem may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and changes may be made in the details of the structure which provides for swiveling of the stem members without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a coupler for a railway car, a coupler head, a front stem member on said coupler head including an extension projecting rearwardly therefrom, a shoulder on the front stem member defining the forward end of said extension, rear stem means encasing said extension, bearing surfaces on the extension and the rear stem means spaced longitudinally of the extension whereby the stem means may rotate about the axis of the extension, lugs carried by the rear stem means, a boss on said extension cooperating with said lugs for transmitting pulling forces from the front stem member to the stern means, an abutment surface on a forward portion of the stem means cooperating with said shoulder for transmitting butfing forces, said abutment surface having a recess therein, and a spring actuated ball carried by the front stem member for entering said recess releasably retaining the stem means in one rotated position relative to the front stem member.

2. In a railway coupler, a coupler head, a front stem member carried by the coupler head projecting rearward- 1y therefrom, an extension on said stem member in axial alignment with the longitudinal axis of the front stem member, a cylindrical surface adjacent the rear end of said extension, a shoulder on said stern member defining the forward end of said extension arranged in a plane at substantially right angles to the longitudinal axis of the stem member, an annular boss on said extension of larger diameter than said cylindrical surface and spaced rearwardly from said shoulder, a second cylindrical surface on the stem member between said boss and said shoulder, a rear stem member having a cavity therein open lengthwise along the bottom thereof accommodating said extension, a segmental cylindrical bearing surface within said rear stem member at the rear of said cavity fitting about the first cylindrical surface on said stem member, a filler member closing said cavity, a segmental cylindrical surface carried by the filler member complementing said bearing surface, lugs on said rear stem member fitting between a forward portion of said boss and said shoulder, a segmental cylindrical second bearing surface on said lugs fitting about the second cylindrical surface, and 21 segmental cylindrical surface on said filler member complementing the second bearing surface.

3. In a railway coupler, a coupler head, a front stem member carried by the coupler head projecting rearwardly therefrom, a generally cylindrical shaped extension on said stem member in alignment with the longitudinal axis of said stem member, a shoulder on said stem member defining the-forward end of said extension, a boss integral with the extension having a larger diameter than the periphery of the extension and arranged intermediate the ends of the extension, a rear stem member having an elongated cavity therein opened lengthwise along the bottom thereof receiving said extension, a filler member closing said cavity and having a bottom surface flush with lower side portions of the rear stem member, cylindrical bearing surfaces within the rear stern member and the filler member journalling the rear end of said extension for rotation stem member in alignment with the longitudinal axis of i said stem member, a shoulder on said stern member defining the forward end of said extension, a boss integral r with the extension having a larger diameter than the periphery of the extension and arranged intermediate the ends of the extension, a rear stern member having an elongated cavity therein opened lengthwise along the bottom thereof receiving said extension, a filler member closing said cavity and having an exterior surface flush with outer surface portions of the rear stem member, cylindrical bearing surfaces within the rear stern member and the filler member journalling the rear end of said extension for rotation about the axis thereof, lugs on said rear stem carried by the coupler head projecting rearwardlytherei from, an extension on said stem member in axial alignment with the longitudinal axis of said stem member, a cylindrical surface adjacent the rear end of said extension, a shoulder on said stem member defining the forward end of said extension arranged in a plane at substantially right angles to said longitudinal axis, an annular boss on said extension of larger diameter than said cylindrical surface and spaced rearwardly from said shoulder and spaced forwardly of said rear end, and a second cylindrical surface on said extension between said boss and said shoulder. I

6. Ina railway coupler, ,a coupler head, a stem member carried by the coupler head projecting rearwardly therefrom, an extension on said stern member in axial alignment with the longitudinal axis of said stern member, a cylindrical surface adjacent the rear end of said extension, a shoulder on said stem member defining the forward end of said extension arranged in a plane at substantially right angles to said longitudinal axis, an annular boss on said extension of larger diameter than said cylindrical surface and spaced rearwardly from said shoulder and spaced forwardly of said rear end, a second cylindrical surface on said extension between said boss and said shoulder, an annular shoulder defining the front face of said boss arof said extension arranged in a plane at substantially right angles to said longitudinal axis, an annular boss on said on said lugs forming a bearing fitting about the extension of larger diameter than said cylindrical surface and spaced rearwardly from said shoulder and spaced forwardly of said rear end, a s cond cylindrical surface on said extension between said boss and said shoulder, said stem member having an aperture therein with a mouth at the surface of said shoulder, a ball within said mouth, and a spring within said aperture engaging said ball and the stem member within the aperture.

8. In a railway coupler, a two-part draw bar for the coupler including a front stern member and a rear stem member, said rear stern member having an elongated cavity therein opened along one side and opened at the front end thereof, an end surface on said rear stem member substantially at right angles to the length thereof, an extension carried by the front stem member accommodated within said cavity, shoulders extending lengthwise said stem member along said cavity, a filler member closing said open side, shoulders on said filler member engaging the, first shoulders, means securing the filler member to the rear stem member with said shoulders in engagement, cylindrical bearing surfaces within the rear stem member and filler member journaling the rear end of said extension for rotation about the axis thereof, a boss on an intermediate portion of said extension, lugs on the rear stern member and the filler member between said boss and said end surface, and cylindrical surfaces periphery of said extension forwardly of said boss.

9. A stem member for a two-part draw bar of a railway coupler comprising, an elongated rear stern member having a cavity therein open at one side and open at the front end thereof, a front end surface on said member substantially at right angles to the length thereof, shoulders extending lengthwise of said member along the boundary of said side opening, a segmental cylindrical surface within said member at the rear end of said cavity with substantially parallel surfaces both tangent to said cylindrical surface extending to said shoulders, lugs at the front end of said stem member having substantially parallel inner confronting edges extending to said shoulders, and a second segmental cylindrical surface connecting and merging with said inner edges on said lugs.

10. A stem member for a two-part draw bar of a railway coupler comprising, an elongated rear stem member having a cavity therein open at one side and open at the front end thereof, a front endsurface on said member substantially at right angles to the length thereof, shoulders extending lengthwise of said member along the boundary of said side opening, a segmental cylindrical surface within said member at the rear end of said cavity with substantially parallel surfaces both tangent to said cylindrical surface extending to said shoulders, lugs at the front end of said stern member having substantially parallel inner confronting edges extending to said shoulders, a second segmental cylindrical surface connecting and merging with said inner edges on said lugs, a filler member having portions engaging said shoulders with the filler member closing said side opening, a segmental cylindrical bearing surface on the filler member complement ing the segmental cylindrical surface at the rear end of said cavity, and a segmental cylindrical surface on said filler membercomplementing the segmental cylindrical surface connecting the inner edges on said lugs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

